Page 6 - OhioAlaCarteSummer2011

4 www.ohiorestaurant.org Summer Issue

June 20, 2011 shaped up to be a great day for the 2011 ORA/NRA SAFE Golf Classic at the New Albany Country Club. In addition to enjoying a beautiful course and amazing food, industry leaders gathered to celebrate a worthy cause with net proceeds from the event benefting the ORA’s political advocacy efforts and the NRA Save American Free Enterprise (SAFE) Fund.

Approximately 150 golfers put their clubs in motion and tested their skill against a course designed by one of America’s golf giants - Jack Nicklaus. Even though many people were focused on eagles and posting the lowest score, the true champion of the day was politicking on behalf of Ohio’s great restaurant professionals. Before the golfers participated in the day’s events on the 27-hole course, Richard Mason, the ORA’s Director of Government Affairs, thanked all those in attendance. He reminded them of the great efforts the ORA and the NRA undertake on a daily basis to protect Ohio’s foodservice industry from threats against them in both Columbus and Washington, D.C.

“Ohio is ground zero for national politics,” said Geoff Hetrick, ORA President & CEO. “Our

industry needs to become more aggressive and stand up for what we believe in. This means operators need to get to know their offcials at the state level because legislators want to hear directly from their constituents. Investing time with your elected offcials regarding legislation that could potentially be detrimental to your business needs to become as important as watching food and labor costs. Events like today bring the industry together – both socially and fnancially – but, this should be just the beginning.”

Leading the event was the 2011 ORA/NRA SAFE Golf Classic Committee, including Lynn Brown, Outback Steakhouse; Mike Sopko, Carrabba’s Italian Grill; Steve Shafer and Chad Congrove, Bob Evans Farms; Roy Getz, Raising Cane’s of Ohio; Gary Callicoat, Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern and Roger Parker, Mancy Brothers Catering.

Federal Level- National Restaurant Association (NRA)

• The NRA was a major player in the decade-long battle with the banking industry to reduce punishing “swipe fees” on debit card transactions. SAFE allowed the NRA to contribute to the coalition of retailers that persuaded Congress to act.

• Restaurant Opportunity Centers are local efforts led by the nation’s most politically-powerful labor unions. Their purpose is to convince restaurant employees that they need to join a union. The NRA is involved in the nine states where ROCs are active today. Just a year ago, ROCs were only present in three states. The dollars that you invest in SAFE could stop this “movement” from coming to Ohio.

• The devil is in the details, which is why the NRA is devoting time and resources to make sure the FDA’s rules implementing the menu labeling portion of the health care bill do not unnecessarily burden restaurants.

State Level – Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA)

• The “food police” want to make offering certain “healthy” menu items a requirement to get a foodservice license, restrict your use of sodium, block certain types of restaurants in defned geographical areas, etc, etc. Not in Ohio! The ORA was successful in encouraging lawmakers to add language to the state budget that prohibits cities and counties from enacting these kinds of ordinances. SAFE helped our association stand up to those who want to tell you how to run your business.

• There is power in numbers, which is why the ORA helped form a coalition of business associations in 2007 to fght mandatory paid sick leave. And, we won. The restaurant industry needs a rainy day fund to quickly respond when similar laws are proposed. By contributing to SAFE, you ensure that the dollars are there to fght proposed laws that would negatively impact the industry.

What does SAFE do for Your Business?

2011 ORA/NRA SAFE Golf Classic

Draws Industry Involvement, Generates Dollars to Fight Harmful Legislation

Political advocacy fundraiser promotes industry awareness, involvement

Thank You to the 2011 Event

Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: Carrabba’s Italian Grill

Platinum Sponsor: White Castle System, Inc.

Gold Sponsor:

Heartland Payment Systems

Silver Sponsors:

Bob Evans Farms and Sysco Cleveland

Bronze Sponsors:

Castellini Group; Gordon Food Service; CH Guenther & Son, Inc.; Ecolab; Glazer’s; Orlando Baking Company; Heidelberg Distributing Group; Heinz; IGS Energy; MillerCoors; Precision Foods Inc.; Rich Products; Rothbury Farms; Sirna & Sons Produce; T. Marzetti Company; The J.M. Smucker Company and Wallingford Coffee

Proximity Awards Sponsors: CareWorks Consultants, Inc.; Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc.; Kappus Company and G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co.

Friends of the Tournament: Norman, Jones, Enlow & Co.; Raising Cane’s of Ohio and Samuel Adams

The New Albany Country Club played host to approximately 150 golfers on June 20 for the 2011 ORA/NRA SAFE Golf Classic. The picturesque course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, proved both challenging and rewarding to the outing’s participants.